Chair iron



June 24, 1930. D. R. COLLIER CHAIR IRON Filed Feb. 27, 1928 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca DAVID B. COLLIER, GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO COLLIER-m0! COMPANY, 01' GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAIR IRON Application filed' February 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,467.

'5 lower end, the bearing being carried by a removable closure member at the bottom of the chair base hub, the closure being removable and forming when in place a grease cup with the lower portion of .the hub for 19 holding lubricant for the bearing. Since the closure member is removable, the spindle may be inserted in either end of the bore of the hub, so that the chair base may be reversed on the spindle to make a more compact package of the chair for shipment.

Other advantageous features of structure will be ap arent to one skilled in the art from the ollowing description of an embodiment of the invention, and from the drawing, of which,-

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a chair iron embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the iron shown in Figure 1, the chair legs being reversed on the spindle to form a compact package for shipment.

Figure 3 shows in section a modified form of the bearin element shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 s ows a modifiedform of the closure element at the lower end of a hub.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 represents a tubular member which with an upper plate 11', a lower plate 12 and a plurality of channels 13 form the hub of .a chair iron. The tubular member '10 preferably extends below the lower plate 12, the extending portion 14: being preferably threaded externally as in Figure 1 or internally as in Figure 4 to support a closure which may bein the shape of a cup 15 or a plug 16. The plosure is preferably a separate art which is secured to the lower projectmg portion 14 by any preferred means. As shown, the closure is screw-threaded to the portion 14 of the tubular member 10.

On the upperface of the closure 15 or 16 is a bearing element which may comprise a raised member or rounded boss 17 against which the end of the chair spindle .18 may rest or a ball bearing 19 may be employed as shown in Figure 3. The bearing element 17 is preferably of hardened steel, but any other suitable material may be substituted therefor. The closure 15 or 16 preferably makes a grease-tight. joint with the lower portion 14 of the tubular member so that when the chair is assembled for use, the closure is packed with grease which provides adequate lubrication for the spindle bearing for an indefinite period. In order to retain the spindle 18 in place in the hub when the chair is lifted about, the spindle may be provided with a suitable groove 20 adjacent to its lower end. A locki element 21, supported by the side wall of the tubular member 10, projects into the roove 20 and thus prevents removal thereo from the tubular member. As shown in Fi re 1, the locking element2l may be in the orm o a set screw, and it may also pass through tne side wall of the cup-shaped closure 15 so that it not only prevents the removal of the spindle 18 from the hub, but also prevents the removal of the closure 15 from the tubular member 10. If a. plug closure 16 is employed'as shown in Figure 4, a separate set screw 21 may be used to lock the closure in position, a screw 21 being used to retain the spindle 18in place.

According to the present invention, the wei ht of the chair is carried by the hearing at t e lower end of the spindle 18, this hearing bein constantly lubricated by grease containe in the closure. Slidably mounted on the upper portion of the spindle 18 which projects upwardly from the hub, is a chair seat support comprising a head 23 and a spider 24. The seat support may be adjusted vertically on the spindle by means of a suitable screw 25 which is in threaded engagement with a rtion of the head 23, the lower end of t e screw being rotatably supported by an arm 26 fixed to the spindle 18 and extending laterally therefrom. A hand wheel 27 may be provided by which the screw 25 may be turned to adjust the head 23 up or down on the spindle 18.

In order to economize space when shipping swivel chairs, it is desirable to reverse the chair base on the lower end of the spin- 2 1,7ee,4ae

dle as shown in Figure 2 so that the legs 28 of the chair roject upwardly. The closures 15 or 16, being removable from the lower end of the tubular member 10, rmit such reversed mounting of the chair ase on the spindle for shipment.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scolpe as defined by the appended claims.

claim 1. A chair iron comprising a hub having a tubular member, a cup-shaped closure threaded onto the lower end portion of said member, a bearing element within said closure, a spindle extending through said member and resting on said bearing element,

to and single means for retaining said spindle and cap assembled with said tubular member.

2. A chair iron comprising a hub having a tubular member, a cup-shaped closure threaded to the lower end portion of said member, a bearing element projecting upwardly from the bottom portion of said closure, 9. s indle extending through said member an resting on said bearing, said spindle having a circumferential groove adjacent to the lower end thereof, and means for preventing removal of said closure and said spindle, said means comprising an element extending through the side walls of said closure and tubular member and projecting into said groove.

3. A chair iron comprising a hub including top and bottom plates and a tubular member fixed thereto and projecting below 0 said bottom plate, a cup-shaped closure removably secured to the lo zver projecting portion of said tubular member, said closure havin a bearing element therein, a spindle exten ingethrough said member and resting on said aring, said spindle having a circumferential groove near the lower end thereof, and an element extending through the side walls of said cup and said lower pro ecting portion of the tubular member and projecting into said groove.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

DAVID R. COLLIER. 

